Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® MSS Finding Aids Manuscripts 6-13-2008 Green River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company, 1858-1875 (MSS 221) Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Western Kentucky University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aid Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Folklife Archives, Manuscripts &, "Green River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company, 1858-1875 (MSS 221)" (2008). MSS Finding Aids. Paper 496. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aid/496 This Finding Aid is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in MSS Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Department of Library Special Collections Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY 42101-1092 Descriptive Inventory MSS 221 GREEN River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company, 1858-1875 1 box. 2 folders. 9 items. 1858-1875. Photocopies. 2006.149.1 CORPORATE HISTORY Little is known about the Green River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company (GRCIMC). It is likely that it was the continuance of an older coal mining operation on Mud River, simply known as the Mud River Mine. Otto Rothert, historian of Muhlenberg County, believed that the first mine opened here in 1830. The GRCIMC opened a mine on the river side of the hill in 1858; this mine was worked until 1864. The fourth mine on the river side of the hill, known as “The Old Shop Entry,” was opened in 1864 and closed in the mid-1880s. Almost all of this coal was shipped out by barge via the Mud and Green Rivers to Rochester and Bowling Green, Kentucky. A “Coal Road” that led from Russellville to the Mud River Mine was also used to haul coal to that city. Using teams of oxen to pull the wagons, people freighting coal from Mud River to Russellville could expect a round trip to take three days. Subsequent coal mining at Mud River took place on the opposite side of the hill, where a railroad track had been laid from Penrod. This allowed the mine operators to ship the coal via the L&N Railroad rather than by barge. The coal from the Mud River mines was renowned for its high quality. COLLECTION This collection contains an account book (453 p.) which includes sales, barge reports, and individual accounts with miners. The miners’ accounts include how much they were paid per bushel of coal mined, their purchases at the company store, and rent payments if they lived in company housing. The barge accounts include cost of shipping coal and sales made from those loads, typically at Rochester and Bowling Green, Kentucky. The “Rules of Mining Coal at the Green River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company’s Mines on Mud River” are listed on page 1 of the account book. The collection also contains some historical notes on the mine and Mud River made by river historian Agnes Harralson. MSS 221 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University 2 SHELF LIST BOX 1 Green River Coal, Iron and Mfg. Co. 1858-1875 9 items Folder 1 Descriptive inventory and collection notes n.d. 8 items Folder 2 Account book 1858-1875 1 item BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD MSS Green River Coal, Iron and 1859; 1905-1917 221 Manufacturing Company Account book (453 p.) for the Green River Coal, Iron and Manufacturing Company located on Mud River in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Includes records of sales, barge shipments, and individual accounts with miners listing company store purchases. 1 box. 2 folders. 9 items. 2006.149.1 SUBJECT ANALYTICS Account books – Muhlenberg County Account books – Store accounts – Muhlenberg County Boats and boating – Green River, 1858-1875 Boats and boating – Mud River, 1858-1875 Coal mines and mining – Muhlenberg County Green River – Boats and boating, 1858-1875 Mud River – Boats and boating, 1858-1875 Muhlenberg County – Account books Muhlenberg County – Coal mines and mining Muhlenberg County – Store accounts Store accounts – Muhlenberg County Jeffrey 06/14/2008 MSS 221 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University .